PRP Seeks Court Ruling to Exclude APC from Rivers Election

A federal court has received a suit filed by the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and its governorship candidate, Hon. Kieghe Nature Dumale, seeking to prevent the All Progressives Congress (APC) from participating in the 2027 Rivers State governorship election. The suit, numbered FHC/PH/CS/193/2026, names the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the 1st defendant and the APC as the 2nd defendant.

The plaintiffs request the court to direct INEC to remove the APC and its candidate from the approved list for the election scheduled for February 6, 2027. Dumale's affidavit references a Supreme Court judgment from September 24 regarding INEC's authority under the Electoral Act, 2026.

The plaintiffs argue that INEC failed to ensure the APC's compliance with Section 77(5)-(7) of the Act before publishing the final list of candidates, despite a press release indicating that compliance was enforced. They contend that INEC acted inconsistently by excluding other parties while allowing the APC to remain on the list.